August 2018 Newsletter

Dear AmericaServes Partners,

In this edition of our newsletter, we take a trip to Rhode Island to reflect on and celebrate the first nine months of AmericaServes’ first and only statewide network, RIServes. We also welcome our newest national provider, the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN). Lastly, we hear from IVMF Managing Director, Jim McDonough, on a number of strategic efforts currently unfolding within AmericaServes.

We hope you enjoy this edition. As always, thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Sincerely,
Your AmericaServes Team

RIServes Celebrates First IPR

When RIServes was launched by Governor Raimondo last December, it held the distinction of being the first-ever statewide AmericaServes network. Nine months after launching, RIServes held its first In Progress Review (IPR) this month at the Community College of Rhode Island. More than 30 providers from across the Ocean State joined the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs (RIOVA)and the IVMF to discuss the progress made to date and where the network must focus is efforts moving forward.

Of note, the meeting was attended by the State’s Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), Eric J. Beane. EOHHS agencies provide direct services to nearly 306,000 Rhode Islanders as well as an array of regulatory, protective and health promotion services. The IPR was the perfect opportunity to brief Secretary Beane on our work and demonstrate how effective this innovative public/private partnership is in coordinating services and care for Rhode Island’s military-connected population.

In all, RIServes has assisted over 300 veterans, service members and family members with more than 400 service requests since launch. Congratulations and thank you to all of those who contribute to the efforts of this community every day.

Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN)

We are proud to announce that the Service Women’s Action Network(SWAN) has joined AmericaServes as a national provider. Based in Washington, D.C., SWAN is the nation’s leading organization focused on gender-specific needs and issues faced by women and other marginalized populations in the U.S. military. Through advocacy, education, and coalition building, SWAN works to ensure all service women receive the opportunities, protections, benefits and respect they deserve and to have access to the information, tools and support they need to reach their personal and professional goals.

As a national provider, SWAN will bring their highly specialized capacity to all AmericaServes communities. In turn, they will have access to the resources of the AmericaServes’ networks across the country, aiding in their mission of connecting and supporting service women past, present and future

Reinforcing Success in AmericaServes

Earlier this month, IVMF Managing Director Jim McDonough shared his thoughts on how AmericaServes’ staff, providers, and stakeholders must strive to continually improve and expand upon the work we are doing in the veteran support arena. Jim emphasized that it is, “the responsibility of the team to create even more success by committing all we have to the opportunities at hand”. One example of this includes integrating the IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity program into the client referral process of AmericaServes. This integration, which will allow us to reach 840 military connected individuals this month alone, showcases the dedication to continually improve upon the reach and quality of care that we collectively provide to our clients.

AmericaServes Community of Practice National Conference

We are pleased to announce that this year’s AmericaServes Community of Practice National Conference will be held in Dallas, Texas. This participatory learning opportunity will bring together all 16 AmericaServes communities from across the nation. Our teams will convene at Equest, an AmericaServes provider in the TXServes-North Texas network, to share best practices and reduce variance around coordinated care. Building upon the daily work of Coordination Centers and IVMF leads, this national convening furthers our efforts to transform care and service delivery for the country’s military connected members and their families across the country.

Unite US Continuing to Make Strides in Healthcare

Earlier this month, the Foundation for Health and Leadership Innovation (FHLI) selected NCCARE360, a joint-venture of United Way of North Carolina, Unite US, Expound Decision Systems and Benefits Data Trust, to build the North Carolina Resource Platform. The Platform is a new statewide tool designed to assist providers, insurers and community-based organizations to connect people with the community resources they need to stay healthy.

The exciting new NC Resource Platform will be the link between community-based organizations across the state by using its integrated resource database, website and call center to provide an easy access point to all willing participants. What’s more, the NC Resource Platform will be available free to all residents of North Carolina.

IMPROVING THE WAY COMMUNITIES CARE FOR VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, & THEIR FAMILIES

AmericaServes is the country's first coordinated system of public, private, and non-profit organizations working together to serve veterans, service members, and their families. Our vision is that every service member, Veteran, and their family can easily access the full range of comprehensive services required to achieve their unique goals, and to provide a first-class service experience to match service member and veterans' first class military service.